das Salzwasser
salt water
Water that has a high content of dissolved salts, as found in seas and oceans.
EXAMPLE
Beim Schwimmen im Meer habe ich aus Versehen Salzwasser geschluckt.
While swimming in the sea, I accidentally swallowed salt water.
das Salzwasser
salt water
das Salzwasser, die Salzwasser
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Meanings
das Salzwasser
salt water
A solution of water and table salt used for cooking, gargling when you have a sore throat, or for other household and medical purposes.
EXAMPLE
Die Nudeln werden in kochendem Salzwasser gegart.
The pasta is cooked in boiling salt water.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Salzwasser, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Salzwasser |
| genitive | des Salzwassers |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Salzwasser | die Salzwasser die Salzwässer |
| accusative | das Salzwasser | die Salzwasser die Salzwässer |
| dative | dem Salzwasser | den Salzwassern den Salzwässern |
| genitive | des Salzwassers | der Salzwasser der Salzwässer |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Compound word
The word is simply made up of 'Salz' (salt) and 'Wasser' (water). So it literally describes water that contains salt.
EXAMPLE
Das Wasser im Toten Meer ist extremes Salzwasser.
The water in the Dead Sea is extremely salty salt water.
Context clues
The meaning depends on the context. If people are talking about the sea, the beach, or swimming, seawater is meant. If they are talking about cooking, recipes, or home remedies, the homemade salt solution is meant.
EXAMPLE
Die Luft am Meer riecht nach Salzwasser.
The air by the sea smells of salt water.
Man sollte Kartoffeln immer in Salzwasser kochen.
You should always boil potatoes in salt water.
Typical use
The salt solution is mainly used in two contexts: in cooking ('Nudeln in Salzwasser kochen' — to cook pasta in salt water) or as a home remedy for sore throats ('mit Salzwasser gurgeln' — to gargle with salt water).
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt hat mir empfohlen, bei Halsschmerzen mit Salzwasser zu gurgeln.
The doctor recommended that I gargle with salt water for my sore throat.
Compare with
Salzwasser vs Sole
brine
Sole and Salzwasser both consist of water and salt. Sole, however, is particularly highly concentrated and is usually produced deliberately for a specific purpose. Salzwasser is the better term for an ordinary mixture used at home or for cooking.
Salzwasser
Die Kartoffeln werden zum Kochen in leichtes Salzwasser gelegt.
The potatoes are placed in lightly salted water for cooking.
Sole
Die Gurken werden zur Konservierung in eine stark konzentrierte Sole gelegt.
The cucumbers are placed in highly concentrated brine for preservation.
In real life
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